First Test: S Africa v W Indies
Dates: 26-30 December
Play starts: 0830 GMT Boxing Day
Venue: Port Elizabeth
West Indies are keeping fingers crossed that skipper Chris Gayle will be fit for Wednesday's first Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth.
Gayle has a hamstring injury but said: "It's improved a lot the last couple of days.
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The tourists lost by 10 wickets to South Africa A last Friday.
But new coach John Dyson insisted: "I've been very impressed with the professionalism and enthusiasm the players have shown in the nets."
He added: "If we can take that forward to the middle, we'll be very competitive."
Despite Dyson's confidence, recent history suggests West Indies face a huge task.
They lost the Test series 5-0 and 3-0 on their two previous tours to South Africa and were beaten 2-0 at home when the two sides last met in 2005.
The tourists can ill afford to be without Gayle, who would be replaced as skipper by Dwayne Bravo, especially as Ramnaresh Sarwan has had to stay at home because of an ankle injury.
If neither is available, it will put tremendous pressure on Shivnarine Chanderpaul as their sole remaining world-class batsman as they face up to a powerful South African pace attack spearheaded by Dale Steyn.
The 24-year-old has rocketed to third place in the Test bowling rankings after taking 20 wickets in two recent matches against New Zealand - and South Africa have plenty of supporting firepower from Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel.
Their only selection dilemma is whether to make room for former captain Shaun Pollock, who missed the Tests against the Kiwis to accommodate spinner Paul Harris.
Current skipper Graeme Smith, meanwhile, will definitely be fit to lead the side after recovering from a virus.
"I started training about a week ago and am feeling energised again," he said.
South Africa (from): Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Andre Nel, Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock.
West Indies (from): Chris Gayle (captain), Devon Smith, Daren Ganga, Runako Morton, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Brenton Parchment, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Rawl Lewis, Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell, Pedro Collins.
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pak), Russell Tiffin (Zim).
(BBC)
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